AROUND TOWN

Calendar is filled to the brim with teas

Judy Miller at the Toledo Club's tea party.

From left, Debbie Hennie, Judy Eagan, and Wanda Anderson at the Teas at Wildwood Preserve Metropark's Manor House.

Teas at Wildwood Preserve Metropark's Manor House, which is now referred to as Stranleigh, are in full bloom. Stranleigh is the original name of the estate of the Stranahan family, founders of Champion Spark Plug. Stran is for Stranahan and leigh is an English term for a large open meadow, referring to the estate's 700-plus acres.

The first tea of the season was April 5. The next one is Friday with a derby theme because the Kentucky Derby is Saturday. Teas start at 11:30 a.m. The setting is elegant with sparkling chandeliers, rich woods, fancy china, and musical entertainment. For $9, guests receive homemade food from volunteers: two tea sandwiches, two desserts, or any combination of four along with beverages and the special house blend of tea.

June 7 is the Women of Victory tea honoring women military veterans and actives. Aug. 2 is A Literary Tea and Sept. 7 ends the season with a Ladies of Character-themed event.

This year's chairmen are Judith Egan, Stranleigh board president; Wanda Anderson, Debbie Hennie, and Judy Egan.

Reservations are preferred. Call 419-344-4765.

Marie Vogt, founder of the Toledo Ballet, was the honored guest at "Tea with Marie" in celebration of the ballet's 75th anniversary. The soiree held recently at Inverness Club included a display of historic tutus, costumes, and photos, along with raffle items that included original art by Mrs. Vogt.

Event chairmen were Kelby Sodeman and Sarilee Stuart.

Seen were Mary Pat Anderson, Brian Kennedy, Dorothy Price, Kristine Hoffman, Eric Hillenbrand, Donna Niehous, Peggy Lewis, Robert Koenig, Denise Cubbon, and Connie Zemmelman.

Judy Miller at the Toledo Club's tea party.

The Toledo Club hosted a tea with floral centerpieces, scones and clotted cream, mini sandwiches, petit fours, and a variety of teas. Giving a lesson on tea varieties, history, and how to prepare a proper cup of tea was Elaine Terman of Elaine's Tea Shoppe. Her shop is closed temporarily but will open by mid June at a new location: 3115 W. Sylvania Ave.

A "Posy Perfect" birthday party with a mile-long receiving line was held recently for community philanthropist Posy Huebner, co-founder with her late husband Bob of the Blair Museum of Lithophanes in the Toledo Botanical Garden.

Mrs. Huebner, now a nonagenarian, was overwhelmed with the turnout of family and friends. Among the guests were Brian and Mary Kennedy, Kathy Carroll, Jim Moore, Tim Valko, Bill and Pam Davis, Ric Gum, Ellie Brunner, and Margy Trumbull.

The Blair museum will be open Saturday through October, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free but tours by appointment year-round are $5 per person. Call 419-245-1356 or go to curator@lithophanemuseum.org.

FAMILY, friends, music, and food. Skip and Dick Gross celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary at Kingston Sylvania recently. Mr. Gross' father, Joe Gross, started the Gross Electric company more than 100 years ago and Dick Gross took over the business in the 1960s. Today it is operated by Dick's daughter, Laurie, and son, Joe.